Fiction > Book editions > London, 1885 - Dynamiter

THE BROAVN BOX. 181
' That gentleman,' said she, a smile struggling to her
face, ' that gentleman, I will not attempt to conceal from
you, desires my hand in marriage, and presses me with
the most respectful ardour. Alas, what am I to say ?
I, the forlorn Teresa, how shall I refuse or accept such
i:)rotestations 1 '
Harry feared to say more ; a horrid pang of jealousy
transfixed him ; and he had scarce the strength of mind
to take his leave with decency. In the solitude of his
own chamber, he gave way to every manifestation of
despair. He passionately adored the Sefiorita ; but it
was not only the thought of her possible union with
another that distressed his soul, it was the indefeasible
conviction that her suitor was unworthy. To a duke,
a bishop, a victorious general, or any man adorned
Avith obA'ious qualities, he had resigned her with a sort
of bitter joy ; he saw himself follow the Avedding party
from a great way off ; he saw himself return to the poor
house, then robbed of its jewel ; and while he could have
wept for his despair, he felt he could support it nobly.
But this affair looked otherwise. The man was patently
no gentleman ; he had a startled, skulking, guilty bear-
ing ; his nails were black, his eyes evasive ; his love
perhaps was a pretext ; he was perhaps, under this deep
disguise, a Cuban emissary ! Harry swore that he would
satisfy these doubts ; and the next evening, about the
hour of the usual visit, he posted himself at a spot
whence his eye commanded the three issues of the
square.
Presently after, a four-wheeler rumbled to the door ;
and the man with the chin-beard alighted, paid ojff the
cabman, and was seen by Harry to enter the house with
a brown box hoisted on his back. Half an hour later,
he came forth again without the box, and struck east-
ward at a rapid walk ; and Desborough, with the same
skill and caution that he had displayed in following-
Teresa, proceeded to dog the steps of her admirer. The
man began to loiter, studying with apparent interest the
wares of the small fruiterer or tobacconist; twice he
returned hurriedly upon his former course ■ and then,